Siberian Husky

Characteristics

Size

Grooming Needs

Exercise Needs

Good With Dogs

Watchdog Ability

History

The ancestors of the modern Siberian Huskies have lived together for centuries with Siberian tribes who relied on these dogs to pull sleds, to assist them during a hunt and keep them safe from predators. It is believed that the Siberian Husky is one of the oldest breeds of dogs. Today it is also used for a pet that is proud to participate in dog shows. In XVII century the Russians began to actively seek gold in Siberia and they needed a vehicle to move through a snow. The Siberian Husky was suited very well for this purpose. During the Gold Rush in Alaska residents of North America also had an acute need for dogs to pull sleds in the snow. At that time, American poachers hunted seals near Kamchatka and Chukotka and hence brought large amounts of Siberian Huskies. In the 20's and 30's of the last century, this breed was already quite famous in the US. In the 70s it became famous worldwide because of its beauty and puppies for sale could be found in many countries.

Physical characteristics

The Siberian Husky reaches 60 cm in height and 28 kg in weight. This is a muscular dog with a well-developed chest. Ears are straight with sharp edges. Ttail is in a form of pen and always upright. It has a crescent shape and is located just above the back. Eyes are brown or blue, almond-shaped and set slightly oblique. Feet are large and during movement are aimed neither in nor out. Pads are adapted to snow and therefore do not need to be cleaned.

Color of a coat can vary - from black to white with spots or stripes on an entire body. The most popular are black and white, and gray and white coloring. Entirely black, brown or white coats are very rare. The Siberian Husky can have a black or white mask around eyes and double vertical stripe on forehead at a beginning of nose. Coat is not very long, but is extremely dense. Some representatives of the breed may have different color eyes and nose with pink spots - such a nose is called snow.

Character and behavior

These are strong and benevolent dogs. They love cold weather and towing sleds therefore are well adapted to harsh conditions and seek out adventures. Huskies are good at digging. They have developed a weird skill – they can change their metabolism. Scientists do not know how. They can run for hours and burn energy that comes from the reserves of fat and thus do not get tired.

Training and education

The Siberian Husky is a very intelligent dog that can be taught to execute every command but this is a dog that thinks it can take decisions independently, so you should be prepared that it might refuse to obey. It is not recommended to use physical force, as this will affect the character of the dog and it can become antisocial.

Health problems

The Siberian Husky is a healthy dog, but there is a likelihood of catching a genetically transmitted disease. These include epilepsy, hip dysplasia, dysplasia of an elbow joint, cataract, glaucoma, ear infections, skin infections and diseases of a stomach. Average lifespan is around 12 to 15 years.

Grooming and care

The Siberian Husky is a dog that needs a serious exercise. If it does not move enough, it is likely try to escape. Also it is likely to chase a cat or other animal, since it is highly developed instinct for race. It is better if the Siberian Husky lives in a yard, but it can be grown in an apartment. Coat of the Siberian Husky needs regular brushing to look good. It is not recommended to bathe it more often than two or three times a year, otherwise it may break the protective layer.

Children and other pets

Despite its energetic nature, huskies get along well with children and are friendly even to strangers. This makes them a preferred pets. Basically, they are benevolent animals that could peacefully coexist with other pets (including guinea pigs, rabbits and ferrets). Same applies to a coexistence of husky with other dogs.

Interesting facts

Dogs of this breed are glorified as true heroes. In 1925, several Huskies in the so-called race of charity, in town of Nome, Alaska, are known to have delivered the drug against diphtheria. This could have been done only with a help of a dog team. Thanks to a dogs of the Norwegian Leonadr Seppala a message for help was sent in the city that was virtually cut off from the outside world because of a snowstorm.

The drug was delivered to a railway station, but there was no chance of any other transport to get there, except of sled dogs. Over a hundred and fifty dogs participated in this dangerous journey, which was long over a thousand kilometers. The leader of a team - Togo managed to save some of the dogs that fell into the lake and would perish. Despite all difficulties the drugs were delivered and an epidemy was stopped. In this story were created many animated and feature films, the most famous of which is Balto.

An interesting fact is that a name of the breed - Husky, originally was used for the Eskimos.

The front paws have an extra finger, which is not obsolete, but is used by the dog to clean its face.